Explained: What is a No-Confidence Motion & How Does a Vote of No Confidence Work?
In case of a no-confidence motion being supported by more than half the lawmakers ie. 272 of the 545-member Lok Sabha, the government of the day will have to resign.
New Delhi, July 18: The no-confidence motion, moved primarily by the Andhra Pradesh-ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and backed by a slew of Opposition parties including the Congress, will be taken up in the Lok Sabha today. While the BJP is confident of sailing through, the Congress is preparing to target the ruling party on a host of issues including lynchings, MSP for farmers and more. Follow the live updates of the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha here.
What is a No-Confidence Motion?
The no-confidence motion is a weapon of the legislature to bring down the elected government in case it appears to be losing the majority mark. The motion may be successful only if there are fissures within the ruling camp, along with the dissidence of coalition parties.
How Does a Vote of No Confidence Work?
Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Lok Sabha allows an elected Member of Parliament (MP) to move the motion in the Lower House. If it is supported by at least 50 lawmakers, the Speaker allots a date for the no-confidence motion to be taken up in the Lok Sabha. The allotted date has to be within 10 days of the motion being accepted by the Speaker.
The motion moved today by the Opposition received over 50 signatories from the Congress, TDP, NCP, YSR Congress, Samajwadi Party and TMC. On Friday, when it will be taken up for discussion, it would require the vote of more than half of the lawmakers to be successful.
In case of a no-confidence motion being supported by more than half the lawmakers ie. 272 of the 545-member Lok Sabha, the government of the day has no other option but to resign.
Will the No-Confidence Motion Against the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government Sail Through?
The motion to be taken up on Friday is unlikely to dethrone the Modi government as the number of NDA lawmakers are well above the majority mark. Despite the exit of TDP, the NDA has 312 MPs in its camp.
BJP alone has 273 MPs in the Lok Sabha (minus Speaker Sumitra Mahajan).
Although the no-confidence motion may fail to bring down the government, it is likely to send a stern message to the ruling camp. The motion will also test the Opposition unity ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year. In case of all anti-NDA parties supporting the motion, the Congress' plan to form a pre-poll coalition ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections will gain impetus.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2018 09:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).